Exterior mirror element with wide angle portion

ABSTRACT

An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear glass substrates and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. The electrochromic mirror reflective element includes a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and has a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters. The electrochromic medium is disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate and may be in contact with the principal planar reflector portion and the auxiliary wide angle curved portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/971,228, filed Dec. 17, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,934,844,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/893,242,filed Sep. 29, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,204, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/776,780, filed May10, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,824,045, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/124,297, filed May 21, 2008, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,748,856, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/939,753, filed May 23, 2007, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exterior rearview mirror assembliesand, more particularly, to an exterior rearview mirror assembly havingan auxiliary wide angle reflector portion or optic for providing thedriver with a wider angle rearward field of view as compared to asubstantially planar portion of the rearview mirror.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a wide angle rearward field of view to a driverof a vehicle via a wide angle reflective element at one or both of theexterior rearview mirror assemblies. Such a wide angle rearward field ofview may be provided via a curved mirror reflector, or an auxiliary wideangle reflective element may be provided at a portion of a generallyplanar mirror reflector, such as via a stick on curved auxiliaryreflector element attached to the generally planar mirror reflector.Such add-on curved auxiliary reflectors may be provided at the frontsurface or first surface (the surface of the mirror reflector that isgenerally facing rearward and at least partially toward the driver ofthe vehicle) and provide a reduced image size (as compared to the sizeof the generally planar reflector) wide angle rearward field of viewthat is readily viewable by the driver of the vehicle. However, suchcurved, auxiliary wide angle reflectors are additional components andadd to the cost and manufacturing complexity of the mirror assembly.Other auxiliary wide angle reflectors have been proposed, such as thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,315,419; 7,097,312; and/or 6,522,451,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an exterior rearview mirror reflector orreflective element having a generally planar (or slightly curved)principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle reflectorportion integrally formed at the mirror substrate.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an exterior rearviewmirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror reflective elementcomprising a mirror substrate having a front surface and a rear surface.The mirror substrate comprises a first reflector portion and a secondreflector portion, with the first reflector portion comprising aprincipal reflector portion of the mirror reflective element. The rearsurface of the mirror substrate has a curved recess established thereat,and the second curved reflector portion is established at the curvedrecess. The curved recess has a radius of curvature that is less than aradius of curvature of the first reflector portion (where the radius ofcurvature of the first reflector portion may be substantially infinityfor a generally flat or planar mirror element or substrate with agenerally flat or planar principal reflector portion, or may be ameasurable radius for a curved or slightly curved or bent mirror elementand/or substrate), whereby the curved recess, when coated by a reflectorcoating, provides a wide angle auxiliary reflector portion integrallyformed with the mirror reflective element (such as by physicallyremoving, such as by grinding or sculpting or physically ablating or thelike, a portion of the substrate so as to create or establish a physicaldish-shaped convex depression or recess or crater at the surface of thesubstrate).

The mirror reflective element may comprise an electro-optic mirrorreflective element having a first or front mirror substrate and a secondor rear mirror substrate and an electro-optic medium disposedtherebetween. The curved recess is established at a rear surface of thesecond or rear mirror substrate. The first reflector portion maycomprise a metallic reflector disposed at a front surface of the rearmirror substrate and between the rear mirror substrate and theelectro-optic medium. The metallic reflector at the front surface of therear mirror substrate has a window established thereat, with the windowsubstantially corresponding to a location of the curved recess at therear surface of the mirror substrate. Optionally, the first reflectorportion may comprise a metallic reflector disposed at the rear surfaceof the rear mirror substrate, with the second reflector portioncomprising the metallic reflector disposed at the curved recess.

Therefore, the present invention provides an auxiliary wide angle mirrorreflector portion that is integrally formed with the mirror substrateand mirror reflective element. The present invention thus provides anauxiliary wide angle reflector portion without additional components orelements being adhered to the front or rear surface of the reflectiveelement, and thus provides an enhanced mirror reflective element withsuch an auxiliary wide angle reflector portion. The present inventionprovides a curved wide angle reflector portion that is behind the firstor front surface of the mirror reflective element so that the first orfront surface of the mirror reflective element comprises a generally orsubstantially planar surface with the curved reflector portionestablished or formed behind and viewable through the generally orsubstantially planar front surface of the mirror reflective element.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an exterior mirror assembly with anauxiliary wide angle reflector in accordance with the present invention,shown as viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of an exterior mirror reflector inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mirror reflector of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the curvature of the auxiliary wide anglereflector of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a table showing dimensions of the auxiliary wide anglereflector for various applications thereof in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another mirror reflector in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mirror reflector of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another mirror reflector in accordancewith the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an exterior rearview mirror assembly 10 for a vehicle includesa mirror reflector or reflective element 12 received in and/or supportedby a mirror shell or casing 14 (FIG. 1). Mirror assembly 10 is mountedat the side 16 a of a host or subject vehicle 16. Mirror reflector 12includes a first or principal mirror reflective element portion 18 and asecond or auxiliary wide angle reflective element portion or reflectiveoptic 20 integrally formed with the mirror reflector 12, as discussedbelow. The auxiliary wide angle optic may be integrally formed such asby physically removing, such as by grinding or sculpting or physicalablation or the like, a portion of the substrate so as to create orestablish a physical dish-shaped generally convex-shaped depression orrecess or crater at the surface of the substrate, and coating the formeddepression or recess with a reflector coating or element or the like, asalso discussed below.

In the illustrated embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 3, mirror reflector12 comprises an electro-optic reflective element (but could comprise anon-electro-optic reflective element) having a front substrate 22, arear substrate 24 and an electro-optic medium 26 (such as a solidpolymer matrix electrochromic medium or the like) sandwichedtherebetween and sealed via a perimeter seal 28. Front substrate 22 hasa transparent conductor coating 30 (such as an indium tin oxide (ITO)coating or layer) disposed at its rear surface 22 a, while rearsubstrate 24 has a mirror reflector or coating 32 (such as anon-dichroic transflector, such as an ITO/Ag/ITO stack of layers orcoatings or the like) and a transparent conductor layer 34 (such as anITO or F-doped or As-doped tin oxide layer or the like) disposed at itsfront surface 24 a. The mirror reflector 12 thus comprises a thirdsurface electro-optic mirror element (such as an electrochromic mirrorelement). The front and rear substrates 22, 24 may comprise generallyplanar mirror substrates or may have a slight radius of curvature toprovide a wider angle field of view across the principal reflectorportion 18 depending on the particular application of the mirrorreflective element and exterior rearview mirror assembly.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transparent conductor layer 34 is established ordisposed at substantially the entire principal reflecting portion of thereflective element, while the mirror reflector 32 is disposed at thetransparent conductor layer 34 and with a window 32 a masked or formedthrough the mirror reflector 32 (such that a window area 32 a of therear substrate is substantially devoid of the mirror reflector coating,while the mirror reflector or coating is present at the other regions ofthe principal reflecting area of the rear substrate of the reflectiveelement). The window 32 a may be formed via any suitable means, such asvia masking of the window area during sputter deposition of the mirrorreflector 32 or the like, such as via utilizing aspects of the coatingprocesses described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/021,065,filed Dec. 23, 2004 by McCabe et al. for ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. The transparent conductor 34 is disposed oversubstantially the entire front surface 24 a of the rear substrate and atthe window region so as to provide a conductive layer or surface at theelectro-optic medium 26 and over substantially the entire interfacebetween the rear substrate and the electro-optic medium. Thus,electrical conductivity is preserved between the glass substrate and theelectro-optic medium across the interface surface of the substrateincluding at the window region, so as to provide substantially uniformdimming of the mirror reflective element (i.e. darkening of theelectro-optic medium) when an electrical voltage is applied to theconductive coatings at the opposed surfaces of the front and rearsubstrates.

As shown in FIG. 3, rear substrate 24 has the curved auxiliary wideangle mirror reflector portion 20 integrally formed therewith. In theillustrated embodiment, the auxiliary wide angle mirror reflectorportion 20 or spotter element comprises a curved (such as convex orspherical or aspherical) formation or depression or recess 24 c formedor established (such as via grinding of the rear surface of the glasssubstrate or other suitable means) at the rear surface 24 b of rearsubstrate 24. The curved recess 24 c is integrally formed as part of therear substrate and is formed at a rear surface location that isgenerally opposite or generally aligned with the window 32 a favored atthe mirror reflector 32 at the front surface 24 a of the rear substrate24. A mirror reflector or reflective coating 36 (such as a metallicreflector coating, such as aluminum or silver or chromium or alloysthereof or the like) is disposed or established (such as via sputterdeposition or chemical deposition or other establishing means) at therear or fourth surface 24 b of rear substrate 24 and at least atencompassing the curved recess 24 c to form the curved spotter orauxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portion 20. Optionally, such as ifthe reflector coating 36 is environmentally fragile or non-robust, asealing or protective layer (not shown), such as a lacquer or paint orink or the like, may be established over the reflector coating tosubstantially seal the reflector coating and/or to protect the reflectorcoating.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rear reflector coating 36 may be establishedsubstantially only at the curved recess and the region substantiallyimmediately surrounding the curved recess, or the rear reflector coatingmay cover more of the rear surface of the rear substrate. Optionally, ifthe mirror reflective element is a transflective display-on-demand typeof mirror reflective element, a window or aperture may be formed throughthe rear reflector coating (such as in applications where the rearreflector coating extends at least partially or substantially over therear surface of the substrate and at the principal reflecting portion ofthe mirror reflective element) for a display element or illuminationsource to project illumination therethrough.

Thus, the auxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portion 20 provides awide angle rearward field of view to the driver of the vehicle ascompared to the field of view provided by the generally planar orslightly curved principal reflecting area or portion 18 of the mirrorreflective element 12. The diameter or cross dimension of the wide anglemirror reflector portion and the radius of curvature (with a smallerradius of curvature providing a wider angle rearward field of view) ofthe wide angle mirror reflector portion 20 are selected to provide thedesired wide angle rearward field of view, while being established at adesired or appropriate depth at the rear surface of the rear substrate.The curved recess has a radius of curvature that is smaller andpreferably substantially smaller than the radius of curvature of theprincipal reflector portion, which may have a large radius of curvaturethat may approach infinity, such as for a slightly curved to generallyor substantially planar or flat mirror element.

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, for a spherical orconvex construction, the diameter or cross dimension or size D (thedimension across the reflective element) of the auxiliary wide anglereflector portion and the radius of curvature R of the wide anglereflector portion determine the depth H of the recess to be formed atthe rear surface of the rear substrate. Thus, the thickness of the glasssubstrate should be selected to have a thickness that allows for theformation of the curved recess at its rear surface while limiting theaffect of the curved recess on the structural integrity of the mirrorreflective element. If a larger size or cross dimension or diameter(such as about 60 mm to about 80 mm or thereabouts, such as may be usedon an exterior rearview mirror for a larger vehicle, such as a truck orthe like) of the auxiliary wide angle reflector portion and/or a smallerradius of curvature (such as about 200 mm to about 400 mm orthereabouts) of the auxiliary wide angle reflector portion is/aredesired, the glass substrate should be thick enough to have such arecess formed at its rear surface (with the recess possibly being about1 mm deep to about 4 mm deep or thereabouts) without adversely effectingthe structural integrity of the reflective element. For example, andwith reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, if a 2 mm thick glass substrate isselected for the reflective element, an auxiliary wide angle reflectorhaving a diameter or cross dimension D of up to about 70 mm could beachieved with a 400 mm radius of curvature R by grinding a curved recesshaving a chord height or depth H of about 1.53 mm into the rear surfaceof the substrate and thus leaving about 0.47 mm of glass at the apex ofthe curved recess.

Although several radii of curvature and diameters/cross dimensions areshown in the table of FIG. 5, clearly other sizes and/or radii ofcurvature or multiple radii of curvature and/or combinations thereof maybe implemented without affecting the scope of the present invention.Optionally, for a given size or diameter of the auxiliary wide anglereflector portion, it may be desirable to provide the smallest radius ofcurvature of the curved recess (while maintaining the desired structuralintegrity of the glass substrate and/or reflective element) so as toprovide a wider angle rearward field of view to the driver of thevehicle via the auxiliary wide angle reflector portion. Although theradii of curvature and diameters and chord heights or recess depths areshown for spherical formations or constructions, aspherically formedrecesses or constructions may be integrally established at the rearsurface of the rear substrate to provide other, aspheric or non-uniformwide angle field of views, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention. For such applications, the depth of the aspheric curvedrecess should be determined to ensure that the curved recess is notestablished too deep into rear surface of the glass substrate for theparticular applications. Thus, the auxiliary wide angle reflector optic,as viewed through the front surface of the reflective element by aviewer viewing the front or front surface of the reflective element, canbe a spherical or aspherical reflector optic, depending on theparticular application of the reflective element and mirror assembly andthe desired rearward field of view provided by the auxiliary wide anglereflector optic.

Although shown as a generally circular-shaped auxiliary wide anglemirror reflector portion, the auxiliary wide angle mirror reflectorportion of the present invention may comprise other shapes and/or may beotherwise located or established at the mirror reflective element, whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.Optionally, the wide angle reflector may comprise a generallyconvex-shaped reflector, such as a spherically convex shape, or the wideangle reflector may comprise a generally convex-shaped reflector havinga compound curvature convex shape, such as a multi-radius shape oraspherical shape or the like. For example, the auxiliary wide anglemirror reflector portion may be formed or sculpted or drilled or groundat a corner or outboard region, preferably an outboard, upper region ofthe mirror substrate relative to the side of a vehicle to which themirror would be mounted and viewed by a driver of that vehicle (orelsewhere depending on the particular application), and may comprise apartial circle or partial spherical depression or recess or other shape(such as multi-radius or non-spherical or aspherical shape or segment orsuch as a rectangular shape that may be curved as a partialcylindrical-shaped recess or the like). Optionally, the wide anglereflector may be formed or sculpted or drilled at the rear surface ofthe substrate so that the reflector is effectively canted relative tothe mirror substrate so as to reflect the wide angle image toward thedriver of the vehicle. The rear surface of the corner region of themirror substrate may be formed or ground or sculpted or otherwiseprocessed to provide the desired shape and/or contour/curvature of theauxiliary reflector portion, and the rear surface of the mirrorsubstrate may be coated or otherwise processed to provide the mirrorreflector at the established curved recess at the corner region of themirror substrate, such as in a similar manner as described above. Thewide angle reflector may utilize aspects of the mirror assembliesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,315,419; 7,097,312; and/or 6,522,451;and/or PCT International Publication WO 01/81956 A1 to George E. PlatzerJr. entitled “Compound Automotive Rearview Mirror”; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar.23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008; and/or Ser. No.11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749; and/orU.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/050,810, filed May 6, 2008;and/or Ser. No. 61/050,853, filed May 6, 2008, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

In accordance with what is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,451 (aboveincorporated herein by reference in its entirety), a plano elementand/or a multiradius element can comprise a variable reflectanceelectro-optic element such as an electrochromic mirror reflector. Thus,both the plano element and the multiradius element can comprise anelectrochromic mirror element or either of the plano element and theplano element can comprise an electrochromic mirror element and theother can comprise a fixed reflectance non-variable reflectance mirrorelement such as a metal reflector coated glass panel such as a chromiumcoated glass substrate. Also, if both the plano element and themultiradius element comprise an electro-optic element such as anelectrochromic mirror element capable of electrically dimmablereflectivity, both elements can dim together and in tandem under controlof a common dimming control signal (typically provided by anelectro-optic automatic dimming interior mirror assembly mounted in thecabin of the automobile and equipped with photosensors to detectincident glare and ambient light). Alternately, if both the planoelement and the multiradius element comprise an electro-optic elementsuch as an electrochromic mirror element capable of electricallydimmable reflectivity, the plano element can dim independently of themultiradius element (such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,677,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein). If either or both of the elements comprise an electrochromicelement, preferably, the electrochromic reflective element comprises afront substrate and a rear substrate with an electrochromic mediumdisposed between, such as a solid polymer matrix electrochromic mediumsuch as is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/350,930,filed Jul. 12, 1999, en titled “ELECTROCHROMIC POLYMERIC SOLID FILMS,MANUFACTURING ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES USING SUCH FILMS, AND PROCESSES FORMAKING SUCH SOLID FILMS AND DEVICES” to Desaraju V. Varaprasad et al.,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,306, or such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,668,663; 5,724,187; 5,910,854; and 5,239,405, the entire disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Also, although itis preferable to utilize a multiradius or compound curvature reflectiveelement such as an aspherical element or a compound curvature elementfor the auxiliary mirror element adjacent the plano reflective element(as this enables least discontinuity in image at the joint between theadjacent elements of the assembly), a spherical reflective element (thathas substantially only one radius of curvature and, as such, is asection from a sphere) can optionally be used adjacent the planoreflective element instead of, or in addition to, the multiradiusreflective element.

In accordance with what is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749 (aboveincorporated herein by reference in its entirety), the mirror reflectiveelement may include a wide angle or auxiliary mirror or reflector at aperimeter region or corner region of the reflective element to provide arearward wide angle view to the driver of the vehicle. The wide anglereflector may be established at the reflective element and behind thefourth surface of the reflective element, such as by utilizing aspectsof the reflective elements described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,419 and/orU.S. pat. publications, Pub. No. US 2002/0105741, published Aug. 8,2002; and/or US 2003/0117731, published Jun. 26, 2003; and/orInternational Pub. No. WO 01/81956, published Nov. 1, 2001, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thewide angle reflector may be positioned at a perimeter region of thereflective element so as to provide a wide angle viewing area forviewing the blind spot area at the side and rearward of the vehicle,while the primary or central region of the reflective element provides agenerally planar reflective surface for viewing rearward and sideward ofthe vehicle mirror. The reflective element includes a perimeter bandaround the perimeter of the reflective element and a perimeter bandportion inboard of a wide angle area or region at the reflective elementand around an inboard perimeter region of the wide angle reflector. Theperimeter band thus separates and/or demarcates the wide anglereflective portion from the generally planar reflective portion of thereflective element, and may conceal or hide the edges of the wide anglereflector. The perimeter band is disposed on the second surface of thefront substrate and generally at or along the perimeter seal of thereflective element, while the perimeter band portion is disposed on thesecond surface and inboard of the seal to generally outline/demarcate aninner perimeter of the wide angle reflector. The perimeter band portionmay have generally the same width as the perimeter band, or may have areduced width or narrow width to reduce the effect on the viewing areaof the reflective element. Wide angle reflector is positioned at therear (or fourth) surface of the rear substrate and may be adhered to therear surface and generally behind the wide angle area defined by theperimeter band and the perimeter band portion.

In accordance with what is disclosed in PCT International Publication WO01/81956 A1 (above incorporated herein by reference in its entirety),the auxiliary wide angle mirror portion may be disposed at the secondsurface of the front substrate of an exterior electrochromic mirrorreflective element, and with the electrochromic medium containingelectrochromic-active material contacting the auxiliary wide anglemirror portion and disposed between the auxiliary wide angle mirrorportion/second surface and a reflector coated rear substrate of theexterior electrochromic mirror reflective element.

Therefore, the mirror reflector or reflective element or transflectiveelectro-optic mirror element of the present invention has an auxiliarywide angle mirror reflector portion established integrally into the rearsubstrate. The auxiliary mirror reflector portion may be formed orestablished via grinding a portion of the rear surface of the rearsubstrate and coating the ground area. The rear surface reflectorcoating may be established or disposed substantially only at the groundarea or curved recess, or may be established or disposed substantiallyover the entire rear surface of the rear substrate (particularly forapplications of the integrally formed wide angle auxiliary mirrorreflector portion in fourth surface reflector mirror elements, asdiscussed below).

Optionally, the integrally formed auxiliary wide angle mirror reflectorportion of the present invention may be integrally formed at a rearsurface of a fourth surface reflecting electro-optic mirror reflectiveelement, whereby the rear surface mirror reflector disposed at theauxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portion may be established ordisposed over substantially the entire rear surface of the rearsubstrate, with the front surface of the rear substrate having only thetransparent conductor layer established thereat. Optionally, theintegrally formed auxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portion of thepresent invention may be integrally formed at a rear surface ofnon-electro-optic or non-electrochromic reflective element, such as asingle substrate mirror reflective element. In such an embodiment, thesingle substrate may have a mirror reflector or coating established ordisposed at its rear surface and at the integrally formed recess of thewide angle mirror reflector portion, such that the rear surfacereflector of the mirror reflective element is established over theentire rear surface to form the principal reflector portion of themirror element and the auxiliary wide angle reflector portion of themirror element. The single substrate may comprise a generally flat orplanar substrate or a slightly curved substrate or a prismatic elementor substrate, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a mirror reflector 112 maycomprise an electro-optic reflective element (but could comprise anon-electro-optic reflective element) having a front substrate 122, arear substrate 124 and an electro-optic medium 126 (such as a solidpolymer matrix electrochromic medium or the like) sandwichedtherebetween and sealed via a perimeter seal 128. The electrochromicreflective element 112 includes the electrochromic medium 126 sandwichedbetween the front and rear substrates and at a principal reflectingregion 118 of the reflective element 112. In the illustrated embodiment,the rear substrate 124 is cut away or formed to accommodate the wideangle element 120 at a cut-away region 121 (such as in a similar manneras described in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/050,810,filed May 6, 2008; and/or Ser. No. 61/050,853, filed May 6, 2008, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) so thatthe wide angle element 120 is established at the rear surface 122 a ofthe front substrate 122 and at the cut-away region 121 and at a wideangle reflector region 122 b of front substrate 122. Thus, the wideangle element may be established at a cutaway region and rearward of thefront substrate and adjacent to the electrochromic medium and rearsubstrate, such that the mirror reflector assembly does not provide adimming function at the wide angle reflecting region.

In the illustrated embodiment, front substrate 122 has a transparentconductor coating 130 (such as an indium tin oxide (ITO) coating orlayer) disposed at its rear surface 122 a, while rear substrate 124 hasa mirror reflector or coating 132 (such as a non-dichroic transflector,such as an ITO/Ag/ITO stack of layers or coatings or the like, which mayinclude a transparent conductor layer such as an ITO or F-doped orAs-doped tin oxide layer or the like) disposed at its front surface 124a. The mirror reflector 112 thus comprises a third surface electro-opticmirror element (such as an electrochromic mirror element) at theprincipal reflecting region of the reflector that is bounded by the seal128. The front and rear substrates 122, 124 may comprise generallyplanar mirror substrates or may have a slight radius of curvature toprovide a wider angle field of view across the principal reflectorportion 118 depending on the particular application of the mirrorreflective element and exterior rearview mirror assembly.

As shown in FIG. 6, front substrate 122 has the curved auxiliary wideangle mirror reflector portion 120 integrally formed therewith. In theillustrated embodiment, the auxiliary wide angle mirror reflectorportion 120 or spotter element comprises a curved (such as convex orspherical or aspherical) formation or depression or recess 122 c formedor established (such as via grinding of the rear surface of the glasssubstrate or other suitable physical material removal means) at the rearsurface 122 a of front substrate 122. The curved recess 122 c isintegrally formed as part of the front substrate and is formed at a rearsurface location that is at the cut-away region 121 of the mirrorreflective element assembly. The mirror reflector or reflective coating120 a (such as a metallic reflector coating, such as aluminum or silveror chromium or alloys thereof or the like, and optionally may be similarin materials and/or reflectance to the mirror reflector 132 at frontsurface 124 a of rear substrate 124, but other coatings could beutilized at the wide angle reflector depression 122 c at rear surface122 a of front substrate 122) is disposed or established (such as viasputter deposition or chemical deposition or other establishing means)at the rear or second surface 122 a of rear substrate 122 and at leastat encompassing the curved recess 122 c to form the curved spotter orauxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portion 120. Optionally, such asif the reflector coating 120 a is environmentally fragile or non-robust,a sealing or protective layer (not shown), such as a lacquer or paint orink or the like, may be established over the reflector coating tosubstantially seal the reflector coating and/or to protect the reflectorcoating.

Thus, when forming the front substrate 122 and the mirror reflector orreflective element assembly 112, the rear surface 122 a of frontsubstrate 122 may be coated with the transparent conductor coating 130(such as across its entire or substantially its entire rear surface),and the rear surface of the extended portion or wide angle region 122 bof front substrate 122 may be ground or physically ablated to establishthe recess or depression 122 c at the rear surface 122 a of frontsubstrate 122 (such as by first physically removing the transparentconductor coating 130 at the wide angle region of the front substrateand then physically removing a portion of the substrate to establish therecess or depression at the rear surface of the front substrate). Therecess or depression 122 c may then be coated with the mirror reflectoror coating 120 a to establish the wide angle reflector 120 at theoverhang region or cut-away region or wide angle reflector region 121 ofthe mirror reflector 112. Optionally, the wide angle element may utilizeaspects of the Platzer-type auxiliary mirrors that follow the teachingof PCT International Publication WO 01/81956 A1 to George E. Platzer Jr.entitled “Compound Automotive Rearview Mirror”, the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Optionally, the front substrate may include a perimeter band and/ordemarcating band and/or hiding layer that traverses the front substrateat the wide angle reflecting region to demarcate the wide anglereflecting region from the generally planar or principal reflectingregion and optionally to generally circumscribe at least a portion ofthe wide angle reflector, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,184,190; 7,255,451;and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008;and/or Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No.7,626,749; and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/050,853,filed May 6, 2008; and/or Ser. No. 61/050,810, filed May 6, 2008, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thehiding layer thus may mask or hide from direct view of the driver theseal and/or other components or elements of the mirror reflectorassembly construction that are to the rear of the front substrate and inthe area of the bordering or hiding layer or element. The hiding layerthus serves as a demarcation element and a hiding or occluding elementfor the wide angle mirror reflector established at the rear of the glasssubstrate at the wide angle reflecting region of the mirror reflectorassembly. The hiding layer or demarcation element may demarcate ordelineate or distinguish or frame the wide angle reflector from thegenerally planar principal reflecting region of the reflective elementto enhance the discernibility of the wide angle reflector at the wideangle reflecting region of the mirror reflector assembly, while hidingthe perimeter seal of the electro-optic mirror reflector assembly.

Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 8, a non-electro-optic mirror element212 may include a generally planar substrate 222 with a wide anglereflector 220 established at a rear surface 222 a of substrate 222.Substrate 222 has the curved auxiliary wide angle mirror reflectorportion 220 integrally formed therewith. In the illustrated embodiment,the auxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portion 220 or spotter elementcomprises a curved (such as convex or spherical or aspherical) formationor depression or recess 222 c formed or established (such as viagrinding of the rear surface of the glass substrate or other suitablephysical material removal means) at the rear surface 222 a of substrate222.

The rear surface 222 a of substrate 222 is coated with a reflectorcoating 234, such as a transflective reflector coating that is partiallylight transmissive. The wide angle reflector coating 220 a and theprincipal reflecting coating 234 may comprise the same material (wherethe substrate may be formed and the depression or recess 222 c may beestablished at the rear surface of the substrate prior to the coatingprocess, which may coat the entire rear surface of the substrate) or maybe different materials (or applied in different processes), such as forapplications where the substrate is coated with the transflectivereflector 234 before the depression or recess 222 c is established (byremoving the reflector coating and a portion of the substrate), and thenthe recess 222 c is coated with the wide angle reflector coating. In theillustrated embodiment, a display element 238 is disposed to the rear ofthe substrate 222 and behind the transflective coating 234, wherebydisplay information or illumination emitted by the display element 238is viewable through the transflective coating and the substrate by aperson viewing the front surface of the substrate, while the presence ofthe display element to the rear of the substrate is rendered covert bythe transflective coating when the display element is not activated.Optionally, if a transflective reflector coating is disposed at therecess or depression 222 c, it is envisioned that a display element orillumination element or the like may be disposed to the rear of the wideangle reflector 220 so as to be viewable, when activated, through thesubstrate by a person viewing the front surface of the substrate, whilebeing substantially covert when deactivated.

Therefore, the present invention provides a mirror reflective elementwith an integrally formed auxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portionand a method of making such a mirror reflective element. For example,the mirror substrate may cut to the desired shape or form, and the rearsurface of the substrate may be ground or otherwise processed to formthe desired curvature of the recess (such as a spherical or asphericalcurvature). The recess may be formed before or after the front surfaceof the mirror substrate is coated with the transparent conductor and/orthe metallic reflector (with the window established thereat, such as viamasking during sputter deposition of the metallic reflector or such asvia laser ablation of the metallic reflector coating at the window areaor the like). The front surface and/or rear surface of the mirrorsubstrate may be coated with the reflector coatings (and optionally, thesurfaces may be coated via a two-side sputter deposition process, suchas by utilizing aspects described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) to establishthe desired reflector portions of the mirror reflective element. Therear substrate may be assembled to the front substrate (with theelectro-optic medium disposed and sealed therebetween) to assemble themirror reflective element. Optionally, the rear surface of the rearsubstrate may be ground and/or coated to establish the auxiliary wideangle reflector portion after the mirror reflective element isassembled.

Optionally, conductive electrode coated glass substrates arecommercially available from various sources. For example, tinoxide-coated glass substrates, known as “TEC-Glass” products, may beobtained from Libbey-Owens-Ford Co., LOF Glass Division, Toledo, Ohio,and such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,592, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such “TEC-Glass”products are manufactured by an on-line chemical vapor depositionprocess that pyrolytically deposits onto clear float glass a multi-layerthin film structure, which includes a microscopically thin coating offluorine-doped tin oxide (having a fine grain uniform structure) withadditional undercoating thin film layers disposed between thefluorine-doped tin oxide layer and the underlying glass substrate. The“TEC-Glass” substrates may be available in different thicknesses, suchas 2 thick or 3 mm thick glass substrates and/or the like.

Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or mirror reflective elementassembly or sub-assembly may include a back plate that includes aperimeter framing portion or bezel portion that extends around theperimeter edges of the reflective element to support the reflectiveelement and frame the reflective element at the mirror assembly (such asby utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/520,193, filed Sep. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No.7,581,859, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety). The perimeter bezel portion may be narrow or small dependingon the particular application of the reflective element and mirrorreflector sub-assembly. Optionally, the mirror reflector sub-assemblymay comprise a bezelless or frameless reflective element (such as thetypes described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published. Mar.23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008; and/or Ser. No.11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451, and/or PCTApplication No PCT/US2006/01 8567, filed May 15, 2006 by Donnelly Corp.et al., which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties), whereby the back plate may not include a perimeter framingportion or bezel portion around the perimeter of the reflective element.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include a heater pad or element atthe rear surface of the glass substrate to provide an anti-fogging ofde-fogging feature to the exterior mirror assembly (such as by utilizingaspects of the heater elements or pads described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/334,139, filed Jan. 18, 2006 by Byers et al. forMIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH HEATER ELEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,400,435; and/orU.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/853,850, filed Oct. 24, 2006;Ser. No. 60/918,089, filed Mar. 15, 2007; and/or Set. No. 60/970,687,filed Sep. 7, 2007; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US07/82099, filedOct. 22, 2007, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties). The back plate and/or heater pad may include suitableelectrical connectors and connections incorporated therein (such as byutilizing aspects of the mirror assembly described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/334,139, filed Jan. 18, 2006 by Byers et al. forMIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH HEATER ELEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,400,435, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) forelectrically connecting the heater pad and/or display element (or othersuitable electrical connectors may be utilized, such as electrical leadsor wire harnesses or pigtails or other separate connectors or cables orthe like). The heater pad may conform to the rear surface of the rearsubstrate and thus may provide heating to the auxiliary wide anglemirror reflector portion, and thus may provide substantially uniformheating of the mirror reflective element over substantially the entirereflecting area of the mirror reflective element, including theintegrally formed auxiliary wide angle mirror reflector portion.

As stated above, the reflective element of the rearview mirror assemblymay comprise an electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element orcell, such as an electrochromic mirror assembly and electrochromicreflective element utilizing principles disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,195,381; 6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034;6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414;5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663;5,910,854; 5,142,407; and/or 4,712,879, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451;and/or Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23,2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 asInternational Publication No. WO 2006/124682, and/or European PatentApplication No. EP0728618, filed Dec. 8, 1995 and published Aug. 28,1996; and/or European Patent Application EP0729864, filed Dec. 11, 1995and published Sep. 4, 1996; and/or Australian Patent ApplicationAU4031795, filed Dec. 11, 1995 and published Feb. 8, 1996, and/orAustralian Patent Application AU4031895, filed Dec. 11, 1995 andpublished Aug. 29, 1996, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, and/or as disclosed in the followingpublications: N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/NightMirrors”, SAE Technical Paper Series 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “SmartWindows for Automobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N.R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of ChromogenicMaterials”, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices forTransmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS., OpticalEngineering Press, Wash. (1990), which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entireties. The thicknesses and materials ofthe coatings on the substrates of the electrochromic reflective element,such as on the third surface of the reflective element assembly, may beselected to provide a desired color or tint to the mirror reflectiveelement, such as a blue colored reflector, such as is known in the artand/or such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 5,910,854 and6,420,036, and in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 9, 2003by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, use of an elemental semiconductor mirror, such as a siliconmetal mirror, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,286,965; 6,196,688;5,535,056; 5,751,489; and 6,065,840, and/or in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVEELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, can beadvantageous because such elemental semiconductor mirrors (such as canbe formed by depositing a thin film of silicon) can be greater than 50percent reflecting in the photopic (SAE J964a measured), while beingalso substantially transmitting of light (up to 20 percent or evenmore). Such silicon mirrors also have the advantage of being able to bedeposited onto a flat glass substrate and to be bent into a curved (suchas a convex or aspheric) curvature, which is also advantageous sincemany passenger-side exterior rearview mirrors are bent or curved.

Optionally, the reflective element may include a perimeter metallicband, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. etal. for ELECTROCHROMIC MIRROR ASSEMBLY; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. forELECTRO-OPTIC REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY; and/or U.S. pat.applications; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004 by McCabe et al.for ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No.11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. US-2006-0061008, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the reflectiveelement may include indicia formed at and viewable at the reflectiveelement, such as by utilizing aspects of the reflective elementsdescribed in PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006;and U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/681,250, filed May 16,2005; Ser. No. 60/690,400, filed Jun. 14, 2005; Ser, No. 60/695,149,filed Jun. 29, 2005; Ser. No. 60/730,334, filed Oct. 26, 2005; Ser. No.60/750,199, filed Dec. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/774,449, filed Feb. 17,2006; and Ser. No. 60/783,496, filed Mar. 18, 2006, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the reflective element may comprise a single substrate witha reflective coating at its rear surface. The mirror assembly thus maycomprise a prismatic mirror assembly or planar or non-planar mirror orother mirror having a single substrate reflective element, such as amirror assembly utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242; 4,826,289;4,436,371; and 4,435,042; and PCT Application No. PCT/US04/015424, filedMay 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FORVEHICLE; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties. Optionally, the reflective element maycomprise a conventional prismatic or flat reflective element or prism,or may comprise a prismatic or flat reflective element of the typesdescribed in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 byDonnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/709,434, filed May 5, 2004 by Lynam forMIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,756; Ser. No.10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEWMIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filedDec. 23, 2004 by McCabe et al. for ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,255,451; and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004 byLynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No.7,338,177, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18,2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more displays, suchas the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties,and/or display-on-demand or transflective type displays, such as thetypes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,184,190; 7,195,381; 6,690,268;5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No.10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. US-2006-0050018; Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983; and/or Ser. No. 11/021,065, filedDec. 23, 2004 by McCabe et al. for ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,255,451; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filedSep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp, et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENTASSEMBLY; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ELECTRO-OPTIC REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY;and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 byDonnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or mayinclude or incorporate video displays or the like, such as the typesdescribed in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 byDonnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 andpublished Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018; and/orSer. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983;and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov.22, 2004 by Lynam et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY; andSer. No. 60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005 by Lynam et al. for MIRRORASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror reflective element may comprise a transflectivedisplay on demand reflective element that is partially transmissive andpartially reflective, so that the light emanating from the displayelement may be transmitted through the reflective element when anillumination source is activated, but the display is substantiallynon-visible or viewable when the illumination source is deactivated.Optionally, the mirror reflective element may comprise a singlesubstrate or non-electro-optic reflective element, with the auxiliarywide angle reflector portion being integrally formed or established at arear surface of the reflective element, while remaining within thespirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the reflectiveelement may utilize aspects of the reflective elements described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,184,190; 6,690,268; 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004 byLynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No.7,338,177; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,274,501; and/or Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004 by McCabe etal. for ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include a blind spot indicatorand/or a turn signal indicator, such as an indicator or indicators ofthe types described in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/853,850, filed Oct. 24, 2006; and/or Ser. No. 60/918,089, filed Mar.15, 2007; and/or Set No. 60/970,687, filed Sep. 7, 2007; and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US07/82099, filed Oct. 22, 2007; and/or U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,198,409; 5,929,786; and 5,786,772, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/026148, filed Jul. 5, 2006 by Donnelly Corp. et al. forVEHICLE EXTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH BLIND SPOT INDICATOR, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The signalindicator or indication module may include or utilize aspects of variouslight modules or systems or devices, such as the types described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,227,689; 6,582,109; 5,371,659; 5,497,306; 5,669,699;5,823,654; 6,176,602; and/or 6,276,821, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/520,193, filed Sep. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,859,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 16, 2006, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Such an indicator or indicators may function as a lane change assist(LCA) indicator or indicators and/or a blind spot indicator orindicators. Such blind spot indicators are typically activated when anobject is detected (via a side object or blind spot detection system orthe like such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,038,577; 6,882,287;6,198,409; 5,929,786; and 5,786,772, and/or U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005 by Higgins-Luthman for OBJECTDETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580; and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2006/026148, filed Jul. 5, 2006 by Donnelly Corp.et al. for VEHICLE EXTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH BLIND SPOT INDICATOR,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties)at the side and/or rear of the vehicle (at the blind spot) and when theturn signal is also activated, so as to provide an alert to the driverof the host vehicle that there is an object or vehicle in the lane nextto the host vehicle at a time when the driver of the host vehicleintends to move over into the adjacent lane. Optionally, andalternately, the indicator or indicators may function as a lane changeassist indicator or indicators, where the host vehicle may be detectedto be moving into an adjacent lane without the turn signal beingactivated, and an object or vehicle may be detected at the adjacentlane, whereby the LCA indicator or indicators may be activated toprovide an alert to the driver of the lane change to assist the driverin avoiding unintentional lane changes and/or lane changes when avehicle or object is detected in the adjacent lane.

The blind spot indicators thus may be operable to provide an indicationto the driver of the host vehicle that an object or other vehicle hasbeen detected in the lane or area adjacent to the side of the hostvehicle. The blind spot indicator may be operable in association with ablind spot detection system, which may include an imaging sensor orsensors, or an ultrasonic sensor or sensors, or a sonar sensor orsensors or the like. For example, the blind spot detection system mayutilize aspects of the blind spot detection and/or imaging systemsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,038,577; 6,882,287; 6,198,409; 5,929,786;and/or 5,786,772, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,980,filed Sep. 30, 2005 by Camilleri et al. for VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE;and/or Ser. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005 by Higgins-Luthman forOBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580, and/orU.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/638,687, filed Dec. 23, 2004by Higgins-Luthman for OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE; Ser. No.60/628,709, filed Nov. 17, 2004 by Camilleri et al. for IMAGING ANDDISPLAY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE; Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004;and/or Ser. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004 by Laubinger for VEHICLEIMAGING SYSTEM, and/or of the reverse or backup aid systems, such as therearwardly directed vehicle vision systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,396,397; 6,498,620;6,717,610 and/or 6,757,109, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/418,486, filed Apr. 18, 2003 by McMahon et al. for VEHICLE IMAGINGSYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, and/or of the automatic headlampcontrols described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093; and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/105,757, filed Apr. 14, 2005 bySchofield et al. for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No.7,526,103; and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/607,963,filed Sep. 8, 2004 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/orof the rain sensors described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,250,148 and 6,341,523,and/or of other imaging systems, such as the types described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,353,392 and 6,313,454, which may utilize various imagingsensors or imaging array sensors or cameras or the like, such as a CMOSimaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or other sensors or the like, such asthe types disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677;5,760,962; 6,097,023 and 5,796,094, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/441,341, filed Nov. 16, 1999 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLEHEADLIGHT CONTROL USING IMAGING SENSOR, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,339,149,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2003/036177 filed Nov. 14, 2003,published Jun. 3, 2004 as PCT Publication No. WO 2004/047421 A3, withall of the above referenced U.S. patents, patent applications andprovisional applications and PCT applications being commonly assignedand being hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The constructions of the present invention are economical and effectivecompared to the more complicated and potentially more costlyconstructions of other mirror assemblies. For example, no additionalelements or reflectors need be positioned at the front or rear surfaceof the reflective element, since the auxiliary reflector portion isintegrally formed and/or established at the reflective element duringmanufacture of the reflective element.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in anexterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromicmirror reflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having afirst surface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having athird surface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposedbetween said front and rear glass substrates, wherein saidelectrochromic medium is bounded by a seal and wherein saidelectrochromic medium comprises electrochromic material; saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a principal planarreflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion; whereinsaid principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirrorreflector disposed at said rear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliarywide angle curved portion comprises one of (a) a curved recessestablished at a region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating and (b) a curvedrecess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; wherein saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector coated at said curved recess; wherein said first surface ofsaid front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; whereinsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generallyplanar surface; wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension sizethat is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters;wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is inthe range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; whereinsaid curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range fromabout 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters; and wherein saidelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate isin contact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 2. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element, and wherein said principal planar reflector portionof said electrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element.
 3. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 2, wherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped andcomprises a spherical convex-curved surface.
 4. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 3, wherein said spherically curvedand generally circular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth H thatis a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimension sizeD.
 5. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 4, wherein:H=R−(R^2−(D/2)^2)^0.5.
 6. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises acurved recess established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating.
 7. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 6, wherein said sealat least one of (a) circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rearglass substrates and (b) circumscribes the perimeter of said front andrear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 8. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of 1, wherein said seal circumscribes the perimeterof said front and rear glass substrates and wherein said electrochromicmirror reflective element further comprises a hiding layer thatsubstantially hides said seal from view by the driver of the vehiclewhen an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at thevehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle, and whereinsaid hiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glasssubstrate.
 9. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 8,wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic mediumdims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planarreflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliarywide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.
 10. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein a hidinglayer at least in part demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion from said principal planar reflector portion when an exteriorrearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirrorreflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and is normallyviewed by the driver of the vehicle.
 11. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by grinding.
 12. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein saidelectrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front and rear glasssubstrates at said principal planar reflector portion and at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage isapplied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reducereflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflectorportion.
 13. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 12,further comprising a hiding layer that at least one of (a) substantiallyhides said seal from view by the driver of the vehicle when an exteriorrearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromic mirrorreflective element is normally mounted at the vehicle and (b) at leastpartially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion. 14.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 13, wherein saidhiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glasssubstrate.
 15. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1,wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curvedrecess established at a region of said fourth surface of said rear glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating.
 16. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 15, wherein said sealat least one of (a) circumscribes the perimeter of said front and rearglass substrates and (b) circumscribes the perimeter of said front andrear glass substrates and at least partially circumscribes saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 17. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 15, wherein said seal circumscribes theperimeter of said front and rear glass substrates and wherein saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element further comprises a hidinglayer that substantially hides said seal from view by the driver of thevehicle when an exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element is normally mounted at thevehicle and the driver is normally operating the vehicle.
 18. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 17, wherein saidhiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glasssubstrate.
 19. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 15,wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said front andrear glass substrates at said principal planar reflector portion and atsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein, when a voltage isapplied to said electrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element, said electrochromic medium dims to reducereflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector. 20.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 15, wherein, whena voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic mediumdims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planarreflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliarywide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.
 21. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 20, wherein said sealcircumscribes the perimeter of said front and rear glass substrates, andwherein a hiding layer substantially hides the portion of said seal thatcircumscribes said perimeter of said front and rear glass substratesfrom view by the driver of the vehicle when an exterior rearview mirrorassembly equipped with said electrochromic mirror reflective element isnormally mounted at the vehicle and the driver is normally operating thevehicle, and wherein said hiding layer is disposed at said secondsurface of said front glass substrate.
 22. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 21, wherein said principal mirror reflectorof said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glasssubstrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substratebetween said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium, andwherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planarreflector portion disposed at said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein saidlight-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to said auxiliarywide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement.
 23. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 22,wherein said curved recess is established at said region of said fourthsurface of said rear glass substrate by grinding.
 24. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grindingand ablating, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises ametallic reflector coating, and wherein a transparent conductor coatingis disposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate and wherein said transparent conductorcoating abuts said auxiliary mirror reflector and wherein saidtransparent conductor coating surrounds said auxiliary mirror reflector,and wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at said curvedrecess and at a generally planar surface region of said second surfaceof said front glass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recessand wherein the portion of said metallic reflector coating coated atsaid curved recess is contiguous with the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said generally planar surface region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent saidcurved recess.
 25. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim1, wherein said principal minor reflector of said principal planarreflector portion comprises at least one of aluminum, silver, chromium,an aluminum alloy, a silver alloy and a chromium alloy, and wherein saidauxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portioncomprises at least another of aluminum, silver, chromium, an aluminumalloy, a silver alloy and a chromium alloy.
 26. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary mirrorreflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is coated at saidcurved recess via sputter deposition.
 27. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 26, wherein said electrochromic medium issandwiched between said front and rear glass substrates at saidprincipal planar reflector portion and at said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to saidelectrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element,said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible lightat said principal planar reflector.
 28. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding andablating, and wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness betweensaid first surface and said second surface of less than 3 millimeters,and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in therange from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters.
 29. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 28, wherein saidcross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30millimeters to about 50 millimeters.
 30. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 28, wherein said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped and comprises a spherical convex-curved surface, andwherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped recess hasa maximum recess depth that is a function of its radius of curvature andits cross-dimension size.
 31. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portioncomprises a curved recess established at a region of said fourth surfaceof said rear glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating,and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in therange from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters.
 32. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 31, wherein saidcross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30millimeters to about 50 millimeters.
 33. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said principal mirror reflectorof said principal planar reflector portion disposed at said rear glasssubstrate is disposed at said third surface of said rear glass substratebetween said rear glass substrate and said electrochromic medium. 34.The electrochromic minor reflective element of claim 33, wherein saidprincipal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portiondisposed at said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises ametallic reflector coated via sputter deposition.
 35. The electrochromicminor reflective element of claim 33, wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of saidfourth surface of said rear glass substrate by at least one of grindingand ablating, and wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depththat is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57millimeters, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of saidprincipal planar reflector portion at said third surface of said rearglass substrate comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and whereinsaid light-transmitting aperture substantially corresponds to saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element.
 36. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 1, wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromicmedium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) saidelectrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light atsaid principal planar reflector portion and (b) visible lightreflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion issubstantially unchanged.
 37. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 36, further comprising a hiding layer that at leastpartially circumscribes said auxiliary wide angle curved portion. 38.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 37, wherein saidhiding layer is disposed at said second surface of said front glasssubstrate.
 39. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1,wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector coated at said curved recess ofsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a generallyconvex-shaped reflector having a compound curvature convex shape. 40.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein, whenan exterior rearview mirror assembly equipped with said electrochromicmirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle,said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at anoutboard upper region of said electrochromic mirror reflective elementrelative to the side of the vehicle.
 41. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said front glass substrate has athickness between said first surface and said second surface that allowssaid curved recess to be a least about 0.5 millimeters deep.
 42. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 41, wherein said frontglass substrate has a thickness between said first surface and saidsecond surface that allows said curved recess to be no greater thanabout 4 millimeters deep.
 43. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 1, wherein said front glass substrate has a thicknessbetween said first surface and said second surface that allows saidcurved recess to have a depth in the range from about 0.5 millimetersdeep and to about 4 millimeters deep, and wherein said front glasssubstrate has a thickness between said first surface and said secondsurface of less than 3 millimeters.
 44. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 1, wherein said front glass substrate has athickness between said first surface and said second surface of lessthan 3 millimeters.
 45. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 44, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that isin the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters. 46.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recessestablished at a region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating, and wherein saidprincipal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirrorreflector established at said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate, and wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises ametallic reflector coating and wherein said metallic reflector coatingis coated at said curved recess and at a generally planar surface regionof said second surface of said front glass substrate immediatelyadjacent said curved recess and wherein the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said curved recess is contiguous with theportion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said generallyplanar surface region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate immediately adjacent said curved recess, and wherein saidcurved recess is generally circular-shaped.
 47. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grindingand ablating, and wherein a transparent conductor coating is disposed atsaid generally planar surface of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate.
 48. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 47,wherein said transparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirrorreflector.
 49. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 48,wherein said transparent conductor coating at least partiallycircumscribes said auxiliary mirror reflector.
 50. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 48, wherein said transparentconductor coating surrounds said auxiliary mirror reflector.
 51. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 50, wherein saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge ofsaid electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein saidprincipal planar reflector portion of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion ofsaid electrochromic mirror reflective element as viewed through saidfront glass substrate.
 52. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 51, wherein said transparent conductor coating comprises indiumtin oxide.
 53. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 51,wherein said curved recess is established at said region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by grinding before saidtransparent conductor coating is disposed at said generally planarsurface of said second surface of said front glass substrate and beforesaid auxiliary mirror reflector is established at said curved recess.54. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 1, whereinsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recessestablished at a region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating, and wherein atransparent conductor coating is disposed at said generally planarsurface of said second surface of said front glass substrate and whereinsaid transparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirrorreflector, and wherein said transparent conductor coating surrounds saidauxiliary mirror reflector.
 55. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 54, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion isinboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement, and wherein said principal planar reflector portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wideangle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element asviewed through said front glass substrate.
 56. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 54, wherein said curved recess isestablished at said region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating before saidtransparent conductor coating is disposed at said generally planarsurface of said second surface of said front glass substrate.
 57. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by aseal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rear glasssubstrate and wherein said electrochromic medium compriseselectrochromic material; a principal planar reflector portion and anauxiliary wide angle curved portion; wherein said principal planarreflector portion comprises a principal mirror reflector established atsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliarywide angle curved portion comprises a curved recess established at aregion of said second surface of said front glass substrate by at leastone of grinding and ablating; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at saidcurved recess; wherein said first surface of said front glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein, other than at said curvedrecess, said second surface of said front glass substrate comprises agenerally planar surface; wherein said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein said fourthsurface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that isless than or equal to about 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recesscomprises a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; wherein said curved recess has amaximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters toabout 4.04 millimeters; and wherein said electrochromic medium disposedbetween said second surface of said front glass substrate and said thirdsurface of said rear glass substrate is in contact with said principalplanar reflector portion and with said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion.
 58. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57,wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of aperimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element, andwherein said principal planar reflector portion of said electrochromicmirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element as viewedthrough said front glass substrate.
 59. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 58, wherein said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped.
 60. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 59, wherein said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curvedsurface.
 61. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 60,wherein said spherically curved and generally circular-shaped recess hasa maximum recess depth H that is a function of its radius of curvature Rand its cross-dimension size D.
 62. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 61, wherein:H=R−(R^2−(D/2)^2)^0.5.
 63. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 57, wherein said curved recess is established at said region ofsaid second surface of said front glass substrate by grinding.
 64. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein saidprincipal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portioncomprises a first metallic coating and wherein said auxiliary mirrorreflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a secondmetallic coating that is different from said first metallic coating. 65.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein saidauxiliary mirror reflector comprises a metallic reflector coating, andwherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at said curved recessand at a generally planar surface region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess andwherein the portion of said metallic reflector coating coated at saidcurved recess is contiguous with the portion of said metallic reflectorcoating coated at said generally planar surface region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent said curvedrecess.
 66. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 65,wherein said metallic reflector coating of said auxiliary mirrorreflector comprises chromium.
 67. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 65, wherein said metallic reflector coating of saidauxiliary mirror reflector of said auxiliary wide angle curved portionis established at said curved recess via sputter deposition.
 68. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein said frontglass substrate has a thickness between said first surface and saidsecond surface that allows said curved recess to be a least about 0.5millimeters deep.
 69. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 57, wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness betweensaid first surface and said second surface that allows said curvedrecess to be no greater than about 4 millimeters deep.
 70. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein said frontglass substrate has a thickness between said first surface and saidsecond surface that allows said curved recess to have a depth in therange from about 0.5 millimeters deep and to about 4 millimeters deep.71. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 70, whereinsaid front glass substrate has a thickness between said first surfaceand said second surface of about 2 millimeters.
 72. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein said front glasssubstrate has a thickness between said first surface and said secondsurface of less than 3 millimeters.
 73. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 57, wherein said curved recess has a maximumrecess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about2.26 millimeters.
 74. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 73, wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is inthe range from about 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters.
 75. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein saidcurved recess is generally circular-shaped and comprises a sphericalconvex-curved surface.
 76. The electrochromic minor reflective elementof claim 75, wherein said spherically curved and generallycircular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth that is a function ofits radius of curvature and its cross-dimension size.
 77. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein saidcurved recess is established at said region of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate by grinding, and wherein said curved recesshas a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimensionsize of said curved recess is in the range from about 30 millimeters toabout 60 millimeters.
 78. The electrochromie mirror reflective elementof claim 57, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principalplanar reflector portion comprises a metallic reflector that isestablished at said third surface of said rear glass substrate viasputter deposition.
 79. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 57, wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector established at saidcurved recess of said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises agenerally convex-shaped reflector having a compound curvature convexshape.
 80. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57,wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium, saidelectrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light atsaid principal planar reflector portion and visible light reflectivityat said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.81. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, whereinsaid electrochromic medium is sandwiched between said first and rearglass substrates at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 82. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein atransparent conductor coating is disposed at said generally planarsurface of said second surface of said front glass substrate.
 83. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 82, wherein saidtransparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirror reflector. 84.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 83, wherein saidtransparent conductor coating at least partially circumscribes saidauxiliary mirror reflector.
 85. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 84, wherein said transparent conductor coatingsurrounds said auxiliary mirror reflector.
 86. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 85, wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element, and wherein said principal planar reflector portionof said electrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element as viewed through said front glass substrate.
 87. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 86, wherein saidtransparent conductor coating comprises indium tin oxide.
 88. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 85, wherein saidcurved recess is established at said region of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate by grinding before said transparent conductorcoating is disposed at said generally planar surface of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate and before said auxiliary mirrorreflector is established at said curved recess.
 89. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 57, wherein said curved recess ofsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an aspheric curvedrecess.
 90. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 57,wherein said curved recess is established at said region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by grinding and wherein saidcurved recess is canted relative to said principal planar reflectorportion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.
 91. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by aseal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rear glasssubstrate; a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wideangle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflector portioncomprises a principal mirror reflector established at said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding andablating; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises anauxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess; whereinsaid first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generallyplanar surface; wherein, other than at said curved recess, said secondsurface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said third surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said fourth surface ofsaid rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; whereinsaid curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than or equalto about 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises a radiusof curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about1,000 millimeters; wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depththat is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04millimeters; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboardof a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element,and wherein said principal planar reflector portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wideangle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element asviewed through said front glass substrate; wherein said curved recess isgenerally circular-shaped; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflectorcomprises a metallic reflector coating; wherein said electrochromicmedium disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate is incontact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; and wherein, when a voltage isapplied to said electrochromic medium, said electrochromic medium dimsto reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planarreflector portion and visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wideangle curved portion is substantially unchanged.
 92. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 91, wherein said curved recesscomprises a spherical convex-curved surface and wherein said sphericallycurved and generally circular-shaped recess has a maximum recess depth Hthat is a function of its radius of curvature R and its cross-dimensionsize D wherein:H=R−(R^2−(D/2)^2)^0.5.
 93. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 92, wherein said curved recess is established at said region ofsaid second surface of said front glass substrate by grinding, andwherein said front glass substrate has a thickness between said firstsurface and said second surface that allows said curved recess to have adepth in the range from about 0.5 millimeters deep and to about 3.09millimeters deep.
 94. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 93, wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at saidcurved recess and at a generally planar surface region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent said curvedrecess and wherein the portion of said metallic reflector coating coatedat said curved recess is contiguous with the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said generally planar surface region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent saidcurved recess.
 95. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim91, wherein said curved recess is established at said region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate by grinding, and whereinsaid curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range fromabout 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein saidcross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30millimeters to about 60 millimeters.
 96. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 95, wherein said front glass substrate has athickness between said first surface and said second surface of lessthan 3 millimeters.
 97. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 91, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principalplanar reflector portion comprises a metallic reflector that isestablished at said third surface of said rear glass substrate viasputter deposition, and wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwichedbetween said first and rear glass substrates at said auxiliary wideangle curved portion.
 98. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 91, wherein a transparent conductor coating is disposed at saidgenerally planar surface of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and wherein said transparent conductor coating abuts saidauxiliary mirror reflector, and wherein said transparent conductorcoating surrounds said auxiliary mirror reflector.
 99. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 98, wherein saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge ofsaid electrochromic mirror reflective element, and wherein saidprincipal planar reflector portion of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion ofsaid electrochromic mirror reflective element as viewed through saidfront glass substrate.
 100. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 91, wherein said curved recess is established at said region ofsaid second surface of said front glass substrate by at least one ofgrinding and ablating before a transparent conductor coating is disposedat said generally planar surface of said second surface of said frontglass substrate.
 101. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 91, wherein said curved recess is established at said region ofsaid second surface of said front glass substrate by grinding, andwherein said curved recess is canted relative to said principal planarreflector portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element. 102.An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in anexterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromicmirror reflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having afirst surface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having athird surface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposedbetween said second surface of said front glass substrate and said thirdsurface of said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium boundedby a seal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rearglass substrate; a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliarywide angle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflectorportion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at said thirdsurface of said rear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grindingand ablating; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprisesan auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess; whereinsaid first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generallyplanar surface; wherein, other than at said curved recess, said secondsurface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said third surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said fourth surface ofsaid rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; whereinsaid curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than or equalto about 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises a radiusof curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about1,000 millimeters; wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depththat is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04millimeters; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboardof a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element,and wherein said principal planar reflector portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wideangle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element asviewed through said front glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary mirrorreflector comprises a metallic reflector coating; wherein, when avoltage is applied to said electrochromic medium, said electrochromicmedium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principalplanar reflector portion and visible light reflectivity at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged; whereinsaid electrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of saidfront glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate is in contact with said principal planar reflector portion andwith said auxiliary wide angle curved portion; and wherein a transparentconductor coating is disposed at said generally planar surface of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate and wherein saidtransparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirror reflector andwherein said transparent conductor coating surrounds said auxiliarymirror reflector.
 103. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 102, wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness betweensaid first surface and said second surface of less than 3 millimeters.104. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 103, whereinat least one of (i) said curved recess is generally circular-shaped,(ii) said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface,(iii) said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and said curvedrecess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface, (iv) said curvedrecess comprises an aspherical convex-curved surface, (v) said curvedrecess comprises a compound curved convex-curved surface and (vi) saidcurved recess is canted relative to said principal planar reflectorportion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.
 105. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 102, wherein saidfront glass substrate has a thickness between said first surface andsaid second surface that allows said curved recess to have depth in therange from about 0.5 millimeters deep and to about 2.26 millimetersdeep.
 106. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 105,wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the rangefrom about 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters.
 107. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 106, wherein saidelectrochromic medium is sandwiched between said first and rear glasssubstrates at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 108. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 107, wherein saidmetallic reflector coating is coated at said curved recess and at agenerally planar surface region of said second surface of said frontglass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess and wherein theportion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said curved recessis contiguous with the portion of said metallic reflector coating coatedat said generally planar surface region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess.
 109. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 108, wherein saidcurved recess is established at said region of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate by grinding before said transparent conductorcoating is disposed at said generally planar surface of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate.
 110. An electrochromic mirrorreflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirrorassembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective elementcomprising: a front glass substrate having a first surface and a secondsurface; a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourthsurface; an electrochromic medium disposed between said second surfaceof said front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by a seal, said sealjoining said front glass substrate to said rear glass substrate; aprincipal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curvedportion; wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises aprincipal mirror reflector established at a surface of said rear glasssubstrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises acurved recess established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; whereinsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector established at said curved recess; wherein said first surfaceof said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;wherein, other than at said curved recess, said second surface of saidfront glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein saidthird surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said fourth surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromicmirror reflective element, and wherein said principal planar reflectorportion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion of said electrochromic mirrorreflective element as viewed through said front glass substrate; whereinsaid auxiliary mirror reflector comprises a metallic reflector coating;wherein a transparent conductor coating is disposed at said generallyplanar surface of said second surface of said front glass substrate andwherein said transparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirrorreflector and wherein said transparent conductor coating surrounds saidauxiliary mirror reflector; wherein at least one of (i) said curvedrecess is generally circular-shaped, (ii) said curved recess comprises aspherical convex-curved surface, (iii) said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped and said curved recess comprises a sphericalconvex-curved surface, (iv) said curved recess comprises an asphericalconvex-curved surface, (v) said curved recess comprises a compoundcurved convex-curved surface and (vi) said curved recess is cantedrelative to said principal planar reflector portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element; wherein said electrochromicmedium disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate is incontact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; wherein said front glass substratehas a thickness between said first surface and said second surface thatallows said curved recess to have a depth in the range from about 0.5millimeters deep and to about 3.09 millimeters deep; wherein said curvedrecess comprises a radius of curvature that is in the range from about200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; and wherein said curvedrecess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.5millimeters to about 3.09 millimeters.
 111. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 110, wherein said front glass substrate hasa thickness between said first surface and said second surface of lessthan 3 millimeters.
 112. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 111, wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that isin the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters andwherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and wherein saidcurved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface.
 113. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 112, wherein saidcurved recess is established at said region of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablatingbefore said transparent conductor coating is disposed at said generallyplanar surface of said second surface of said front glass substrate.114. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 111, whereinsaid metallic reflector coating is coated at said curved recess and at agenerally planar surface region of said second surface of said frontglass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess, and wherein theportion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said curved recessis contiguous with the portion of said metallic reflector coating coatedat said generally planar surface region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess.
 115. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 114, wherein, when avoltage is applied to said electrochromic medium, said electrochromicmedium dims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principalplanar reflector portion and visible light reflectivity at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.
 116. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by aseal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rear glasssubstrate; a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wideangle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflector portioncomprises a principal mirror reflector established at a surface of saidrear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portioncomprises a curved recess established at a region of said second surfaceof said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliarymirror reflector established at said curved recess; wherein said firstsurface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein, other than at said curved recess, said second surfaceof said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises agenerally planar surface; wherein said fourth surface of said rear glasssubstrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curvedrecess has a cross-dimension size that is less than or equal to about 80millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvaturethat is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000millimeters; wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth thatis in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters;wherein said electrochromic medium disposed between said second surfaceof said front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate is in contact with said principal planar reflector portion andwith said auxiliary wide angle curved portion; wherein said auxiliarywide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element and wherein said principalplanar reflector portion of said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element as viewed through said frontglass substrate; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises ametallic reflector coating; and wherein a transparent conductor coatingis disposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate.
 117. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 116, wherein said curved recess comprises a sphericalconvex-curved surface, and wherein said curved recess has a depth in therange from about 0.5 millimeters deep and to about 3.09 millimetersdeep.
 118. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 116,wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in therange from about 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters, and whereinsaid cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range fromabout 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters, and wherein said metallicreflector coating of said principal mirror reflector of said principalplanar reflector portion is established via sputter deposition andwherein said front glass substrate has a thickness between said firstsurface and said second surface of less than 3 millimeters.
 119. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 116, and wherein saidtransparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirror reflector andwherein said transparent conductor coating surrounds said auxiliarymirror reflector, and wherein said curved recess is established at saidregion of said second surface of said front glass substrate by at leastone of grinding and ablating before said transparent conductor coatingis disposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate.
 120. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 116, wherein said principal planar reflector portioncomprises a principal mirror reflector established at said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate, and wherein said metallic reflectorcoating is coated at said curved recess and at a generally planarsurface region of said second surface of said front glass substrateimmediately adjacent said curved recess and wherein the portion of saidmetallic reflector coating coated at said curved recess is contiguouswith the portion of said metallic reflector coating coated at saidgenerally planar surface region of said second surface of said frontglass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess, and whereinsaid curved recess is generally circular-shaped.
 121. An electrochromicmirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearviewmirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement comprising: a front glass substrate having a first surface and asecond surface; a rear glass substrate having a third surface and afourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposed between said secondsurface of said front glass substrate and said third surface of saidrear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by a seal, saidseal joining said front glass substrate to said rear glass substrate; aprincipal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curvedportion; wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises aprincipal mirror reflector established at a surface of said rear glasssubstrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises acurved recess established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; whereinsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector established at said curved recess; wherein said first surfaceof said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;wherein, other than at said curved recess, said second surface of saidfront glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein saidthird surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said fourth surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curved recess has across-dimension size has a cross-dimension size that is less than orequal to about 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises aradius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters toabout 1,000 millimeters; wherein said front glass substrate has athickness between said first surface and said second surface of lessthan 3 millimeters; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion isinboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement and wherein said principal planar reflector portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element surrounds said auxiliary wideangle curved portion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element asviewed through said front glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary mirrorreflector comprises a metallic reflector coating; wherein a transparentconductor coating is disposed at said generally planar surface of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate; wherein said curved recesshas a depth of at least about 0.5 millimeters deep; wherein saidtransparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirror reflector andwherein said transparent conductor coating surrounds said auxiliarymirror reflector, and wherein said curved recess is established at saidregion of said second surface of said front glass substrate by at leastone of grinding and ablating before said transparent conductor coatingis disposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate; wherein said electrochromic medium disposedbetween said second surface of said front glass substrate and said thirdsurface of said rear glass substrate is in contact with said principalplanar reflector portion and with said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion; wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises aprincipal mirror reflector established at said third surface of saidrear glass substrate; and wherein said metallic reflector coating iscoated at said curved recess and at a generally planar surface region ofsaid second surface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacentsaid curved recess, and wherein the portion of said metallic reflectorcoating coated at said curved recess is contiguous with the portion ofsaid metallic reflector coating coated at said generally planar surfaceregion of said second surface of said front glass substrate immediatelyadjacent said curved recess.
 122. An electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of avehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising: afront glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface; arear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface; anelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate;said electrochromic medium bounded by a seal, said seal joining saidfront glass substrate to said rear glass substrate; a principal planarreflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion; whereinsaid principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirrorreflector established at said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises acurved recess established by at least one of grinding and ablating;wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliarymirror reflector established at said curved recess; wherein said firstsurface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said third surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curved recess has across-dimension size that is less than or equal to about 80 millimeters;wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is inthe range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; whereinsaid curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range fromabout 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters; wherein said auxiliarywide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element and wherein said principalplanar reflector portion of said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement surrounds said auxiliary wide angle curved portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element as viewed through said frontglass substrate; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises ametallic reflector coating; wherein a transparent conductor coating isdisposed at said second surface of said front glass substrate; whereinat least one of (i) said curved recess is generally circular-shaped,(ii) said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface,(iii) said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and said curvedrecess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface, (iv) said curvedrecess comprises an aspherical convex-curved surface, (v) said curvedrecess comprises a compound curved convex-curved surface and (vi) saidcurved recess is canted relative to said principal planar reflectorportion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element; wherein saidelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate isin contact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; wherein said transparent conductorcoating abuts said auxiliary mirror reflector and wherein saidtransparent conductor coating surrounds said auxiliary mirror reflector,and wherein said curved recess is established at a region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding andablating before said transparent conductor coating is disposed at saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate; wherein said metallicreflector coating is coated at said curved recess and at a planarsubstrate surface immediately adjacent said curved recess and whereinthe portion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said curvedrecess is contiguous with the portion of said metallic reflector coatingcoated at said planar substrate surface immediately adjacent said curvedrecess; and wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness betweensaid first surface and said second surface of less than 3 millimeters.123. An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in anexterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromicmirror reflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having afirst surface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having athird surface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposedbetween said second surface of said front glass substrate and said thirdsurface of said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium boundedby a seal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rearglass substrate; a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliarywide angle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflectorportion comprises a principal mirror reflector established at a surfaceof said rear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion comprises a curved recess established at a region of a surfaceof one of said front glass substrate and said rear glass substrate by atleast one of grinding and ablating; wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion comprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established atsaid curved recess; wherein said first surface of said front glasssubstrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein said thirdsurface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension size that isless than or equal to about 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recesscomprises a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; wherein said curved recess has amaximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters toabout 4.04 millimeters; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portionis inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises a metallicreflector coating; wherein, when a voltage is applied to saidelectrochromic medium, said electrochromic medium dims to reducereflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflectorportion; wherein a transparent conductor coating is disposed at saidgenerally planar surface of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate; and wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at saidcurved recess and at a generally planar surface region immediatelyadjacent said curved recess and wherein the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said curved recess is contiguous with theportion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said generallyplanar surface region immediately adjacent said curved recess.
 124. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 123, wherein saidcurved recess is established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating, andwherein said transparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirrorreflector and wherein said transparent conductor coating surrounds saidauxiliary mirror reflector, and wherein said front glass substrate has athickness between said first surface and said second surface of lessthan 3 millimeters, and wherein said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped, and wherein said generally planar surface regionimmediately adjacent said curved recess comprises a generally planarsurface region of said second surface of said front glass substrate, andwherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planarreflector portion comprises a metallic reflector that is established atsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate via sputter deposition.125. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 124, wherein,when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element, visible light reflectivity atsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.126. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 125, whereinsaid electrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of saidfront glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate is in contact with said principal planar reflector portion andwith said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 127. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 125, wherein said electrochromicmedium disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate is incontact with said principal planar reflector portion and is not incontact with said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 128. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 127, wherein a sealjoining said front substrate and said rear substrate prevents saidelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate fromcontacting said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 129. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement comprising a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliarywide angle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflectorportion comprises a principal mirror reflector disposed at said rearglass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portioncomprises one of (a) a curved recess established at a region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grindingand ablating and (b) a curved recess established at a region of saidfourth surface of said rear glass substrate by at least one of grindingand ablating; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprisesan auxiliary mirror reflector coated at said curved recess; wherein saidfirst surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said third surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curved recess has across-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters toabout 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises a radius ofcurvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000millimeters; wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth thatis in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters;wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises a metallic reflectorcoating; and wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at saidcurved recess and at a generally planar surface region immediatelyadjacent said curved recess and wherein the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said curved recess is contiguous with theportion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said generallyplanar surface region immediately adjacent said curved recess.
 130. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 129, wherein saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recessestablished at a region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating, and wherein atransparent conductor coating abuts said auxiliary mirror reflector andwherein said transparent conductor coating surrounds said auxiliarymirror reflector, and wherein said front glass substrate has a thicknessbetween said first surface and said second surface of less than 3millimeters, and wherein said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped, and wherein said generally planar surface regionimmediately adjacent said curved recess comprises a generally planarsurface region of said second surface of said front glass substrate, andwherein said principal mirror reflector of said principal planarreflector portion comprises a metallic reflector that is established atsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate via sputter deposition.131. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 130, wherein,when a voltage is applied to an electrochromic medium of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element, visible light reflectivity atsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged.132. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 131, whereinsaid electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate and is in contact with said principal planar reflector portionand with said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 133. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 131, wherein saidelectrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of saidfront glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate, and wherein said electrochromic medium is in contact withsaid principal planar reflector portion and is not in contact with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 134. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 133, wherein a seal joining said frontsubstrate and said rear substrate prevents said electrochromic mediumdisposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate andsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate from contacting saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 135. An electrochromic mirrorreflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirrorassembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective elementcomprising: a front glass substrate having a first surface and a secondsurface; a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourthsurface; an electrochromic medium disposed between said front and rearglass substrates, wherein said electrochromic medium is bounded by aseal and wherein said electrochromic medium comprises electrochromicmaterial; said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising aprincipal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curvedportion; wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises aprincipal mirror reflector disposed at said rear glass substrate;wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curvedrecess established at a region of said second surface of said frontglass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; wherein saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector coated at said curved recess; wherein said first surface ofsaid front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; whereinsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generallyplanar surface; wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension sizethat is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters;wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is inthe range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; whereinsaid curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range fromabout 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters; wherein saidelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate isin contact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromicmirror reflective element; wherein said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped and comprises a spherical convex-curved surface;wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromic medium of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element, (a) said electrochromic mediumdims to reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planarreflector portion and (b) visible light reflectivity at said auxiliarywide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged; wherein saidprincipal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflector portiondisposed at said rear glass substrate is disposed at said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate between said rear glass substrate and saidelectrochromic medium; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprisesa metallic reflector coating, and wherein a transparent conductorcoating is disposed at said generally planar surface of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate and wherein said transparentconductor coating is in contact with said auxiliary mirror reflector,and wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at said curvedrecess and at a generally planar surface region of said second surfaceof said front glass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recessand wherein the portion of said metallic reflector coating coated atsaid curved recess is contiguous with the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said generally planar surface region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent saidcurved recess; and wherein said front glass substrate has a thicknessbetween said first surface and said second surface of less than 3millimeters.
 136. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim135, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is inthe range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 1.57 millimeters andwherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the rangefrom about 30 millimeters to about 50 millimeters.
 137. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 136, wherein, when anexterior rearview minor assembly equipped with said electrochromicmirror reflective element is normally mounted at the side of a vehicle,said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is generally disposed at anoutboard upper region of said electrochromic mirror reflective elementrelative to the side of the vehicle.
 138. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 137, wherein said curved recess isestablished at a region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by grinding before said transparent conductor coating isdisposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate and before said auxiliary mirror reflector isestablished at said curved recess.
 139. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 138, wherein said transparent conductorcoating comprises indium tin oxide.
 140. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 136, wherein said seal is disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate around a perimeter border region thereof,and wherein a hiding layer is disposed between said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate and said seal, said hiding layer comprising aperimeter metallic band that hides said seal from direct view by adriver of a vehicle viewing said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement as normally mounted and used in an exterior rearview mirrorassembly on a vehicle.
 141. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 140, wherein a further portion of said hiding layer traversessaid front substrate at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion. 142.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 141, wherein saidportion of said hiding layer that traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion from said principal planar reflector portion.
 143. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 141, wherein a portionof said seal traverses between said front substrate and said rearsubstrate at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion, and wherein saidportion of said hiding layer that traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion hides said portion of said seal thattraverses between said front substrate and said rear substrate fromdirect view by a driver of a vehicle viewing said electrochromic mirrorreflective element as normally mounted and used in an exterior rearviewmirror assembly on a vehicle.
 144. An electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of avehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising: afront glass substrate having a first surface and a second surface; arear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface; anelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate;said electrochromic medium bounded by a seal, said seal joining saidfront glass substrate to said rear glass substrate; a principal planarreflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion; whereinsaid principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirrorreflector established at said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises acurved recess established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; whereinsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector established at said curved recess; wherein said first surfaceof said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;wherein, other than at said curved recess, said second surface of saidfront glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein saidthird surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said fourth surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curved recess has across-dimension size that is less than or equal to about 80 millimeters;wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is inthe range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; whereinsaid curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range fromabout 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters; wherein said auxiliarywide angle curved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element; wherein said curved recess isgenerally circular-shaped; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflectorcomprises a metallic reflector coating; wherein said electrochromicmedium disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate is incontact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; and wherein, when a voltage isapplied to said electrochromic medium, said electrochromic medium dimsto reduce reflectivity of visible light at said principal planarreflector portion and visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wideangle curved portion is substantially unchanged.
 145. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 144, wherein said curved recesscomprises a spherical convex-curved surface.
 146. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 145, wherein said front glasssubstrate has a thickness between said first surface and said secondsurface that allows said curved recess to have a depth in the range fromabout 0.5 millimeters deep and to about 3.09 millimeters deep.
 147. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 146, wherein saidmetallic reflector coating is coated at said curved recess and at agenerally planar surface region of said second surface of said frontglass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess and wherein theportion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said curved recessis contiguous with the portion of said metallic reflector coating coatedat said generally planar surface region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess.
 148. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 144, wherein saidcurved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters, and wherein saidcross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the range from about 30millimeters to about 60 millimeters.
 149. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 148, wherein said front glass substrate hasa thickness between said first surface and said second surface of lessthan 3 millimeters.
 150. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 144, wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principalplanar reflector portion comprises a metallic reflector that isestablished at said third surface of said rear glass substrate viasputter deposition, and wherein said electrochromic medium is sandwichedbetween said first and rear glass substrates at said auxiliary wideangle curved portion.
 151. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 144, wherein a transparent conductor coating is disposed atsaid generally planar surface of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and wherein said transparent conductor coating is in contactwith said auxiliary mirror reflector.
 152. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 151, wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromicmirror reflective element.
 153. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 144, wherein said curved recess is established at aregion of said second surface of said front glass substrate by at leastone of grinding and ablation before a transparent conductor coating isdisposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate.
 154. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 149, wherein said seal is disposed between said second surfaceof said front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate around a perimeter border region thereof, and wherein a hidinglayer is disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said seal, said hiding layer comprising a perimetermetallic band that hides said seal from direct view by a driver of avehicle viewing said electrochromic mirror reflective element asnormally mounted and used in an exterior rearview mirror assembly on avehicle.
 155. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 154,wherein a further portion of said hiding layer traverses said frontsubstrate at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 156. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 155, wherein saidportion of said hiding layer that traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion from said principal planar reflector portion.
 157. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by aseal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rear glasssubstrate; a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wideangle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflector portioncomprises a principal mirror reflector established at said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion comprises a curved recess established at a region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding andablating; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises anauxiliary mirror reflector established at said curved recess; whereinsaid first surface of said front glass substrate comprises a generallyplanar surface; wherein, other than at said curved recess, said secondsurface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said third surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said fourth surface ofsaid rear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; whereinsaid curved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than or equalto about 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises a radiusof curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about1,000 millimeters; wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depththat is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04millimeters; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboardof a perimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element;wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises a metallic reflectorcoating; wherein, when a voltage is applied to said electrochromicmedium, said electrochromic medium dims to reduce reflectivity ofvisible light at said principal planar reflector portion and visiblelight reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion issubstantially unchanged; and wherein a transparent conductor coating isdisposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate.
 158. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 157, wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness betweensaid first surface and said second surface of less than 3 millimeters.159. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 158, whereinat least one of (i) said curved recess is generally circular-shaped,(ii) said curved recess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface,(iii) said curved recess is generally circular-shaped and said curvedrecess comprises a spherical convex-curved surface, (iv) said curvedrecess comprises an aspherical convex-curved surface, (v) said curvedrecess comprises a compound curved convex-curved surface and (vi) saidcurved recess is canted relative to said principal planar reflectorportion of said electrochromic mirror reflective element.
 160. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 159, wherein saidfront glass substrate has a thickness between said first surface andsaid second surface that allows said curved recess to have depth in therange from about 0.5 millimeters deep and to about 2.26 millimetersdeep.
 161. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 160,wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recess is in the rangefrom about 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters.
 162. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 161, wherein saidelectrochromic medium is sandwiched between said first and rear glasssubstrates at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 163. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 162, wherein saidmetallic reflector coating is coated at said curved recess and at agenerally planar surface region of said second surface of said frontglass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess and wherein theportion of said metallic reflector coating coated at said curved recessis contiguous with the portion of said metallic reflector coating coatedat said generally planar surface region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate immediately adjacent said curved recess.
 164. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 163, wherein saidcurved recess is established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by grinding before said transparent conductorcoating is disposed at said generally planar surface of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate, and wherein said transparentconductor coating is in contact with said auxiliary mirror reflector.165. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 161, whereinsaid seal is disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate around aperimeter border region thereof, and wherein a hiding layer is disposedbetween said second surface of said front glass substrate and said seal,said hiding layer comprising a perimeter metallic band that hides saidseal from direct view by a driver of a vehicle viewing saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element as normally mounted and used inan exterior rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle.
 166. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 165, wherein a furtherportion of said hiding layer traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 167. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 166, wherein said portion of said hidinglayer that traverses said front substrate at said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curved portion fromsaid principal planar reflector portion.
 168. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 157, wherein said electrochromic mediumdisposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate andsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate is in contact with saidprincipal planar reflector portion and with said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion.
 169. An electrochromic mirror reflective elementsuitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle,said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising: a front glasssubstrate having a first surface and a second surface; a rear glasssubstrate having a third surface and a fourth surface; an electrochromicmedium disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate; saidelectrochromic medium bounded by a seal, said seal joining said frontglass substrate to said rear glass substrate; a principal planarreflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion; whereinsaid principal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirrorreflector established at a surface of said rear glass substrate; whereinsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises a curved recessestablished at a region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; wherein saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector established at said curved recess; wherein said first surfaceof said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;wherein, other than at said curved recess, said second surface of saidfront glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein saidthird surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said fourth surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromicmirror reflective element; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflectorcomprises a metallic reflector coating; wherein a transparent conductorcoating is disposed at said generally planar surface of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate and wherein said transparentconductor coating is in contact with said auxiliary mirror reflector;wherein at least one of (i) said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped, (ii) said curved recess comprises a sphericalconvex-curved surface, (iii) said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped and said curved recess comprises a sphericalconvex-curved surface, (iv) said curved recess comprises an asphericalconvex-curved surface, (v) said curved recess comprises a compoundcurved convex-curved surface and (vi) said curved recess is cantedrelative to said principal planar reflector portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element; wherein said front glasssubstrate has a thickness between said first surface and said secondsurface that allows said curved recess to have a depth in the range fromabout 0.5 millimeters deep and to about 3.09 millimeters deep; whereinsaid curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is in the rangefrom about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; and wherein saidcurved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about0.5 millimeters to about 3.09 millimeters.
 170. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 169, wherein said front glasssubstrate has a thickness between said first surface and said secondsurface of less than 3 millimeters.
 171. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 170, wherein said curved recess has across-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters toabout 80 millimeters and wherein said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped and wherein said curved recess comprises a sphericalconvex-curved surface.
 172. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 171, wherein said curved recess is established at a region ofsaid second surface of said front glass substrate by at least one ofgrinding and ablating before said transparent conductor coating isdisposed at said generally planar surface of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate.
 173. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 170, wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at saidcurved recess and at a generally planar surface region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent said curvedrecess, and wherein the portion of said metallic reflector coatingcoated at said curved recess is contiguous with the portion of saidmetallic reflector coating coated at said generally planar surfaceregion of said second surface of said front glass substrate immediatelyadjacent said curved recess.
 174. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 173, wherein, when a voltage is applied to saidelectrochromic medium, said electrochromic medium dims to reducereflectivity of visible light at said principal planar reflector portionand visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion is substantially unchanged.
 175. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 171, wherein said seal is disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate around a perimeter border region thereof,and wherein a hiding layer is disposed between said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate and said seal, said hiding layer comprising aperimeter metallic band that hides said seal from direct view by adriver of a vehicle viewing said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement as normally mounted and used in an exterior rearview mirrorassembly on a vehicle.
 176. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 175, wherein a further portion of said hiding layer traversessaid front substrate at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion. 177.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 176, wherein saidportion of said hiding layer that traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion from said principal planar reflector portion.
 178. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 171, wherein saidelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate isin contact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 179. An electrochromic mirrorreflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirrorassembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic minor reflective elementcomprising: a front glass substrate having a first surface and a secondsurface; a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourthsurface; an electrochromic medium disposed between said second surfaceof said front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by a seal, said sealjoining said front glass substrate to said rear glass substrate; aprincipal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curvedportion; wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises aprincipal mirror reflector established at a surface of said rear glasssubstrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises acurved recess established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; whereinsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector established at said curved recess; wherein said first surfaceof said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;wherein, other than at said curved recess, said second surface of saidfront glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein saidthird surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said fourth surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curved recess has across-dimension size that is less than or equal to about 80 millimeters;wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is inthe range from about 200 millimeters to about 800 millimeters; whereinsaid curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range fromabout 0.11 millimeters to about 3.09 millimeters; wherein saidelectrochromic medium disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate isin contact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromicmirror reflective element; wherein said auxiliary mirror reflectorcomprises a metallic reflector coating; and wherein a transparentconductor coating is disposed at said generally planar surface of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate.
 180. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 179, wherein said curved recesscomprises a spherical convex-curved surface, and wherein said curvedrecess has a depth in the range from about 0.5 millimeters deep and toabout 2.26 millimeters deep.
 181. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 179, wherein said curved recess has a maximum recessdepth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26millimeters, and wherein said cross-dimension size of said curved recessis in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 60 millimeters, andwherein said metallic reflector coating of said principal minorreflector of said principal planar reflector portion is established viasputter deposition and wherein said front glass substrate has athickness between said first surface and said second surface of lessthan 3 millimeters.
 182. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 179, and wherein said transparent conductor coating is in contactwith said auxiliary mirror reflector, and wherein said curved recess isestablished at a region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate by at least one of grinding and ablation before saidtransparent conductor coating is disposed at said generally planarsurface of said second surface of said front glass substrate.
 183. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 179, wherein saidprincipal planar reflector portion comprises a principal mirrorreflector established at said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate, and wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at saidcurved recess and at a generally planar surface region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent said curvedrecess and wherein the portion of said metallic reflector coating coatedat said curved recess is contiguous with the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said generally planar surface region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent saidcurved recess, and wherein said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped.
 184. The electrochromic mirror reflective element ofclaim 179, wherein said seal is disposed between said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate around a perimeter border region thereof, and wherein a hidinglayer is disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said seal, said hiding layer comprising a perimetermetallic band that hides said seal from direct view by a driver of avehicle viewing said electrochromic mirror reflective element asnormally mounted and used in an exterior rearview mirror assembly on avehicle.
 185. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 184,wherein a further portion of said hiding layer traverses said frontsubstrate at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 186. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 185, wherein saidportion of said hiding layer that traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion from said principal planar reflector portion.
 187. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by aseal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rear glasssubstrate; a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wideangle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflector portioncomprises a principal mirror reflector established at a surface of saidrear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portioncomprises a curved recess established at a region of said second surfaceof said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliarymirror reflector established at said curved recess; wherein said firstsurface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein, other than at said curved recess, said second surfaceof said front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface;wherein said third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises agenerally planar surface; wherein said fourth surface of said rear glasssubstrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curvedrecess has a cross-dimension size has a cross-dimension size that isless than or equal to about 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recesscomprises a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; wherein said front glasssubstrate has a thickness between said first surface and said secondsurface of less than 3 millimeters; wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion is inboard of a perimeter edge of said electrochromicmirror reflective element; wherein said auxiliary minor reflectorcomprises a metallic reflector coating; wherein a transparent conductorcoating is disposed at said generally planar surface of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate; wherein said curved recess has adepth of at least about 0.5 millimeters deep; wherein said transparentconductor coating is in contact with said auxiliary mirror reflector,and wherein said curved recess is established at a region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding andablation before said transparent conductor coating is disposed at saidgenerally planar surface of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate; wherein said electrochromic medium disposed between saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate and said third surface ofsaid rear glass substrate is in contact with said principal planarreflector portion and with said auxiliary wide angle curved portion;wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises a principalmirror reflector established at said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate; and wherein said metallic reflector coating is coated at saidcurved recess and at a generally planar surface region of said secondsurface of said front glass substrate immediately adjacent said curvedrecess, and wherein the portion of said metallic reflector coatingcoated at said curved recess is contiguous with the portion of saidmetallic reflector coating coated at said generally planar surfaceregion of said second surface of said front glass substrate immediatelyadjacent said curved recess.
 188. The electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement of claim 187, wherein said seal is disposed between said secondsurface of said front glass substrate and said third surface of saidrear glass substrate around a perimeter border region thereof, andwherein a hiding layer is disposed between said second surface of saidfront glass substrate and said seal, said hiding layer comprising aperimeter metallic band that hides said seal from direct view by adriver of a vehicle viewing said electrochromic minor reflective elementas normally mounted and used in an exterior rearview mirror assembly ona vehicle.
 189. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim188, wherein a further portion of said hiding layer traverses said frontsubstrate at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 190. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 189, wherein saidportion of said hiding layer that traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion from said principal planar reflector portion.
 191. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic minorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; an electrochromic medium disposed betweensaid second surface of said front glass substrate and said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; said electrochromic medium bounded by aseal, said seal joining said front glass substrate to said rear glasssubstrate; a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wideangle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflector portioncomprises a principal mirror reflector established at said third surfaceof said rear glass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curvedportion comprises a curved recess established by at least one ofgrinding and ablating; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portioncomprises an auxiliary mirror reflector established at said curvedrecess; wherein said first surface of said front glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said third surface of saidrear glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; wherein saidcurved recess has a cross-dimension size that is less than or equal toabout 80 millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises a radius ofcurvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000millimeters; wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth thatis in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters;wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion is inboard of aperimeter edge of said electrochromic mirror reflective element; whereina transparent conductor coating is disposed at said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate; wherein at least one of (i) said curvedrecess is generally circular-shaped, (ii) said curved recess comprises aspherical convex-curved surface, (iii) said curved recess is generallycircular-shaped and said curved recess comprises a sphericalconvex-curved surface, (iv) said curved recess comprises an asphericalconvex-curved surface, (v) said curved recess comprises a compoundcurved convex-curved surface and (vi) said curved recess is cantedrelative to said principal planar reflector portion of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element; wherein said electrochromicmedium disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate is incontact with said principal planar reflector portion and with saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; wherein said transparent conductorcoating is in contact with said auxiliary mirror reflector, and whereinsaid curved recess is established at a region of said second surface ofsaid front glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablationbefore said transparent conductor coating is disposed at said secondsurface of said front glass substrate; wherein said metallic reflectorcoating is coated at said curved recess and at a planar substratesurface immediately adjacent said curved recess and wherein the portionof said metallic reflector coating coated at said curved recess iscontiguous with the portion of said metallic reflector coating coated atsaid planar substrate surface immediately adjacent said curved recess;and wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness between saidfirst surface and said second surface of less than 3 millimeters. 192.The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 191, wherein saidseal is disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said third surface of said rear glass substrate around aperimeter border region thereof, and wherein a hiding layer is disposedbetween said second surface of said front glass substrate and said seal,said hiding layer comprising a perimeter metallic band that hides saidseal from direct view by a driver of a vehicle viewing saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element as normally mounted and used inan exterior rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle.
 193. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 192, wherein a furtherportion of said hiding layer traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 194. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 193, wherein said portion of said hidinglayer that traverses said front substrate at said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curved portion fromsaid principal planar reflector portion.
 195. An electrochromic mirrorreflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirrorassembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirror reflective elementcomprising: a front glass substrate having a first surface and a secondsurface; a rear glass substrate having a third surface and a fourthsurface; said electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising aprincipal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curvedportion; wherein said principal planar reflector portion comprises aprincipal mirror reflector disposed at said rear glass substrate;wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises one of (a) acurved recess established at a region of said second surface of saidfront glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating and (b) acurved recess established at a region of said fourth surface of saidrear glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating; whereinsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliary mirrorreflector coated at said curved recess; wherein said first surface ofsaid front glass substrate comprises a generally planar surface; whereinsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate comprises a generallyplanar surface; wherein said curved recess has a cross-dimension sizethat is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters;wherein said curved recess comprises a radius of curvature that is inthe range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters; whereinsaid curved recess has a maximum recess depth that is in the range fromabout 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters; wherein said auxiliarymirror reflector comprises a metallic reflector coating; and whereinsaid metallic reflector coating is coated at said curved recess and at agenerally planar surface region immediately adjacent said curved recessand wherein the portion of said metallic reflector coating coated atsaid curved recess is contiguous with the portion of said metallicreflector coating coated at said generally planar surface regionimmediately adjacent said curved recess.
 196. The electrochromic mirrorreflective element of claim 195, wherein said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion comprises a curved recess established at a region of saidsecond surface of said front glass substrate by at least one of grindingand ablating, and wherein a transparent conductor coating is in contactwith said auxiliary mirror reflector, and wherein said front glasssubstrate has a thickness between said first surface and said secondsurface of less than 3 millimeters, and wherein said curved recess isgenerally circular-shaped, and wherein said generally planar surfaceregion immediately adjacent said curved recess comprises a generallyplanar surface region of said second surface of said front glasssubstrate, and wherein said principal mirror reflector of said principalplanar reflector portion comprises a metallic reflector that isestablished at said third surface of said rear glass substrate viasputter deposition, and wherein, when a voltage is applied to anelectrochromic medium of said electrochromic mirror reflective element,visible light reflectivity at said auxiliary wide angle curved portionis substantially unchanged, and wherein said electrochromic medium isdisposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate andsaid third surface of said rear glass substrate and is in contact withsaid principal planar reflector portion and with said auxiliary wideangle curved portion.
 197. The electrochromic mirror reflective elementof claim 196, wherein said seal is disposed between said second surfaceof said front glass substrate and said third surface of said rear glasssubstrate around a perimeter border region thereof, and wherein a hidinglayer is disposed between said second surface of said front glasssubstrate and said seal, said hiding layer comprising a perimetermetallic band that hides said seal from direct view by a driver of avehicle viewing said electrochromic mirror reflective element asnormally mounted and used in an exterior rearview mirror assembly on avehicle.
 198. The electrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 197,wherein a further portion of said hiding layer traverses said frontsubstrate at said auxiliary wide angle curved portion.
 199. Theelectrochromic mirror reflective element of claim 198, wherein saidportion of said hiding layer that traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide anglecurved portion from said principal planar reflector portion.
 200. Anelectrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exteriorrearview mirror assembly of a vehicle, said electrochromic mirrorreflective element comprising: a front glass substrate having a firstsurface and a second surface; a rear glass substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface; said electrochromic mirror reflectiveelement comprising a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliarywide angle curved portion; wherein said principal planar reflectorportion comprises a principal mirror reflector disposed at said rearglass substrate; wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portioncomprises a curved recess established at a region of said second surfaceof said front glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating;wherein said auxiliary wide angle curved portion comprises an auxiliarymirror reflector coated at said curved recess; wherein said firstsurface of said front glass substrate comprises a generally planarsurface; wherein said third surface of said rear glass substratecomprises a generally planar surface; wherein said curved recess has across-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters toabout 60 millimeters; wherein said curved recess comprises a radius ofcurvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 800millimeters; wherein said curved recess has a maximum recess depth thatis in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 2.26 millimeters;wherein said auxiliary mirror reflector comprises a metallic reflectorcoating; wherein said front glass substrate has a thickness between saidfirst surface and said second surface of less than 3 millimeters, andwherein said curved recess is generally circular-shaped, and whereinsaid principal mirror reflector of said principal planar reflectorportion comprises a metallic reflector that is established at said thirdsurface of said rear glass substrate via sputter deposition, andwherein, when a voltage is applied to an electrochromic medium of saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element, visible light reflectivity atsaid auxiliary wide angle curved portion is substantially unchanged, andwherein said electrochromic medium is disposed between said secondsurface of said front glass substrate and said third surface of saidrear glass substrate and is in contact with said principal planarreflector portion and with said auxiliary wide angle curved portion;wherein said seal is disposed between said second surface of said frontglass substrate and said third surface of said rear glass substratearound a perimeter border region thereof, and wherein a hiding layer isdisposed between said second surface of said front glass substrate andsaid seal, said hiding layer comprising a perimeter metallic band thathides said seal from direct view by a driver of a vehicle viewing saidelectrochromic mirror reflective element as normally mounted and used inan exterior rearview mirror assembly on a vehicle; wherein a furtherportion of said hiding layer traverses said front substrate at saidauxiliary wide angle curved portion; and wherein said portion of saidhiding layer that traverses said front substrate at said auxiliary wideangle curved portion demarcates said auxiliary wide angle curved portionfrom said principal planar reflector portion.
 201. The electrochromicmirror reflective element of claim 200, wherein said metallic reflectorcoating is coated at said curved recess and at a generally planarsurface region of said second surface of said front substrateimmediately adjacent said curved recess and wherein the portion of saidmetallic reflector coating coated at said curved recess is contiguouswith the portion of said metallic reflector coating coated at saidgenerally planar surface region immediately adjacent said curved recess,and wherein a transparent conductor coating is disposed at said secondsurface of said front substrate and is in contact with said auxiliarymirror reflector.